Thought they skipped the first level. Had Holy Vindicator or Eldritch Knight in mind, fair game. That said, there's exploring options to try to get the prestige class earlier. Some races like aasimars do get some SLAs which might count as "able to cast 2nd level spells of either profane or divine", but this is at GM discretion, and I expect the majority of them saying SLAs don't count.
There is an FAQ that states flat out that they do not count.
A drop of blood has no cost...How do you know it has no cost? It is listed as an alternative material component and so the cost of the two must be the same.
Look at the spells holy/unholy ice weapon the flasks have no gp value listed but both have an alternative component worth 25gp. from context I can conclude (correctly) that a flask of holy water also has a value of 25gp.
Why must they be the same? There is no support for that.
The Holy Ice Weapon does not list the price of Holy Water because Holy Water is separately priced.
The spell Curse Water specifically makes one flask of Unholy Water. Usable in Unholy Ice Weapon.
That said, there are other things...
Hit points are the easiest to restore. Conditions are much harder to fix.
There is the Extraction Scarificator for 1/day use of one of the following: lesser restoration, cure moderate wounds, calm emotions, or potion of rage. Only 2,500 gp.
There is the Healer's Satchel (Specialized) that can provide long term care capable of restoring 1 point of drain per day for up to 5 people at a time. Only 3,000 gp. It also allows a Heal check in place of a Fort save when treating poison or disease.
The spell Delay Poison can prevent someone from getting poisoned. Good for 1 hour per level.
Summons can help out with the healing also.
If you play a Samsarans, and choose Mystic Past Life, lets you poach spells. So a Wizard could poach Bard or Witch spells, and thus net some healing and condition removal spells.
/cevah
Delay Poison can be (has recently been) absolutely clutch. There was a Paladin and a few Clerics... right outside the mine we were in, we just had to make it out to them.
Honestly, a Half-Elf with Arcane Training for Bard wands can get you most of the way there without any further investment other than buying the wands.
Screw the healer, and be a Soulthief Vitalist! Lol. Deal damage to your enemies and restore it as health to your party.
There are options that are way more fun and completely outpace and overshadow your average "healer".
Any well prepared or well thought out party can survive perfectly fine without a dedicated healer.
The Specialized Healer's Satchel (linked above) also handles disease and poison.
/cevah